Scientists have found a way to power GPS systems mounted on birds
Baku, July 29 (AZERTAC). Engineers have created a device that converts the movement of pigeons into electrical energy which is needed to power the GPS system mounted on birds by ornithologists to gather information, says an article on the website of Cornell University.
For the study of migration of birds, scientists need to mount a GPS system with a battery to power the device. But these batteries are way too heavy for the birds to carry and fly long distances. This is where the engineers from the Cornell Universty in the US have found a solution. Under the direction of Ephrahim Garcia, engineers have developed a system which converts the movement of the wings and body of the birds into electrical energy. It works on the basis of a piezoelectric element which generates electric current during compressions.
"In contrast to the engineering systems of the past, our devices are self-sufficient and can go on working endlessly since they get the energy from outside," - said Garcia. Engineers have already tested their device on pigeons. The maximum weight that pigeons can carry without being restricted in their flight is about 4% of their body weight, which comes to around 12 grams. The engineers have been successful in integrating the "backpack" for the pigeons with a microcontroller, an accelerometer, a memory module, a wireless receiver and a piezoelectric element, which can produce up to 300 microwatts of electricity, just enough to make a GPS system work.
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